Category: Self-Esteem
Age Range: all ages
Ask any parent what they most want for their children, and the answer most likely will be that they be happy and successful. Many parents are aware that children who have high self-esteem, who feel accepted and appreciated, tend to approach life with optimism and confidence. This four part series helps parents answer the questions; What is self-esteem? How do children “get” it and how do parents “give” it? And, how do parents foster self-esteem without also making children self-centered? Participants will leave with answers to these questions and strategies to initiate with their children that foster self-esteem and responsibility.
Building Children’s Confidence and Competence: Understanding and Fostering Self-Esteem consist of 4 sessions:
Note: This 4 part series can also be scheduled as a 2 or 3 session series. Each session can also be scheduled as an individual workshop.
1. What Is Self-Esteem? How Do We Get It? How Do We Give It?
The way parents view their children greatly affects the way children view themselves. Research indicates that children with high self-esteem are better able to resist peer pressure and demonstrate higher achievement than those with less self-confidence. Participants will leave with an understanding of what self-esteem is, why it’s important for children, and strategies to help build their child’s self-esteem.
2. The Language of Encouragement
The way parents communicate with their children is at the heart of building positive self-esteem. This session focuses on the verbal and non-verbal messages parents send to their children. Participants will leave with strategies for responsively listening to and using effective praise with their children. Language that builds and/or degrades children’s self-esteem will also be explored.
3. Fostering Independence and Responsibility
As children learn to manage aspects of their lives with increasing competence, their self- esteem grows. In this session, parents will learn how to encourage their children to do more for themselves and how to support them as they struggle with learning new skills. Participants will leave with strategies for encouraging independence and responsibility as well as an understanding of some of the obstacles to getting there.
4. Discipline and Self-Esteem: Teaching and Training with Love
The goal of discipline is not for parents to control their children, but to teach children to control themselves. All parents find themselves in power struggles with their children and in conflict over limits. This session focuses on techniques of discipline that are positive and do not diminish children’s self-respect. Participants will leave having clear strategies for managing conflict and having practiced techniques that help them set clear limits while maintaining self-esteem and fostering self-control.